Category Archives: Crafts & DIY

One of my all-time favorite childhood memories is making our own valentines to share with classmates each year. My mom would crack open the red and pink paper, scissors, glitter, stickers, glue and doilies and we would go to town for a crafternoon at the kitchen table (yes, I just said crafternoon, and yes, I am a total nerd). I loved to personalize my cards – there were always a few extra shiny heart stickers on the valentines for my best friends and (later on) the boys who I thought were the cutest. The highlight of the whole experience was handing them out in class and receiving cards in return. Sure, I was always excited to get a super rad Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles valentine from a bestie, but there was always an unspoken connection and respect for my fellow homemade valentine makers.

Here’s a roundup of valentine tutorials you can do this weekend that are sure to earn you major points this Valentine’s Day.

1. Handmade Paper Doily Valentine: Doilies are the ultimate Valentine’s Day craft supply. I’m pretty sure every handmade Valentine’s Day card I ever made involved doilies. Subsequently, every handmade Valentine’s Day card I ever made was awesome. In conclusion, doilies = awesome.

Handmade Paper Doily Valentine via kidsfunreviewed.com

2. Heartbreaker Valentines: I absolutely love this idea. I love it so much, it’s on my to-do list for this Valentine’s Day.

I’ve always loved ringing in the new year low-key style in my jammies on the couch with my main man, Dick Clark. Don’t get me wrong, I can totally get down with the sparkly excitement of a New Year’s Eve party. But this old soul is more “old” than “soul” these days as the clock hits midnight.

If you’re like me, ditching the babysitter and staying cozy at home with the kids this New Year’s Eve, here are 22 low cost tips to keep the celebration alive and fun!

1. Decorate. Make it feel more like a party by hanging paper streamers and balloons. Head to your local party supply store and stock up on fun decorations for the big night, or make your own.

2. Create your own balloon drop. Tape a paper tablecloth loosely to the ceiling, and fill it with inflated balloons. At midnight, pull it down for an exciting celebration.

3. Make homemade “confetti poppers”. Have the kids create “confetti” with colored paper and a hole punch. Fill deflated balloons with the confetti using a funnel, inflate and tie closed. At midnight, pop the balloons!

4. Make party hats. Nothing screams “I’m celebrating New Year’s Eve!” like wearing a goofy party hat. Have the kids decorate their own with glitter, rhinestones and other fun embellishments.

5. Make “gingerbread” party hats! Use upside down ice cream cones as the base for this fun edible craft. Little kids can cover their own cones with frosting, and then decorate them with candy for a tasty version of the New Year’s Eve tradition.

7. Have a sleepover in the living room. Many kids want to stay up until midnight to watch the ball drop, but just in case they don’t make it you can set up sleeping bags or an inflatable mattress so they can cuddle up and sleep when the time comes. Just remember, if they’re ready for bed before 12, kiss them goodnight and remind them that when they wake up in the morning it will be the new year!

8. Have a family game night. Play board games, Charades, Pictionary, card games, or family friendly group-oriented video games such as the Wii.

9. Watch a movie. Go see a pre-party matinee or hold an all night movie marathon (don’t forget the popcorn) in your living room.

15. Make a list of family resolutions or a family bucket list for the upcoming year. Think of all the things you might want to do or accomplish as a family and record them all. Post your checklist in a place where everyone can see them for motivation!

16. Reflect on your favorite moments. Sit down as a family and share the most memorable events of the past year. You’ll be surprised at what little kids remember or what memories they may cherish the most.

17. Make a family time capsule. Take a shoebox or similar sized container and fill it with your favorite photos of the year, pictures drawn by the kids, and letters written by every family member. Next year, open the box and enjoy all of the cool treasures, and create a new time capsule to open next New Year’s Eve.

18. Celebrate your way around the world. People all over the world celebrate the new year in different ways. Sit down with your kids and learn about the unique New Year’s traditions from different countries. Who knows, maybe you’ll decide to incorporate a few of them into your own family holiday traditions!

19. Celebrate at noon. Instead of doing a midnight countdown, counting down the minutes to 12 pm is more conducive to the earlier bedtime demands of young children.

20. Watch the Times Square NYE celebration… early. If you’re lucky enough to live on the West Coast, tune in to the Times Square celebration and have the kids in bed at a decent hour!

21. Watch the London NYE celebration… early. If you’re an East Coaster like us and can’t keep the kids up until good ole Dick Clark announces the new year, google “live London New Years Eve broadcast” and tune in to their version of New Year’s festivities 5 hours before ours start.

22. Reset the clocks. Part of the excitement of being little on New Year’s Eve is getting to stay up WAY past bedtime. If you’re not down with the subsequent grumpies that the following morning will bring, set the clocks ahead a few hours to celebrate early, and then get those sleepyheads in bed at a decent hour.

Whatever you decide to do, have fun and enjoy the night! I wish you a happy New Year and I’ll see you all in 2012!

I’m curious, will you be staying home or heading out to a party to celebrate the new year? Let us know in the comments section below!

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What homemade gifts have you made/are you making this Christmas? Share with us in the comments section below!

Did you like this article? You can get all the latest posts at Gingerly Homemaking in your email inbox by clicking the link below and entering your email address. Your address will only be used for mailing you new posts via Feedburner, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time. Subscribe to Ginger(ly) Homemaking by Email

Sorry for the absolute last minute-ness of this post, I’ve been sick with a case of the who-knows-what for the past couple of days. But an edibles gift guide I promised, so an edibles gift guide you all shall receive!

Instead of standing in line for ten million years (no joke) to purchase a random something at your local big box store for that last minute present-you-forgot-to-get, head to the kitchen and whip up a few budget friendly edible treats for gift giving this Christmas!

Here’s a roundup of 30 of the best homemade food gift recipes around. And don’t worry, there’s something for everyone on your list!

1. Chocolate Gooey Butter Cookies: Paula Deen went and did it, she clogged my arteries for Christmas. My grandma and I made a few batches of these the other week, and let me tell you they are sinfully good. What I particularly like about this one is that you can use any kind of box cake mix, so if you don’t dig chocolate that’s a-ok. We used funfetti cake mix (my guilty pleasure) and they were just as amazing.

3. Homemade Magic Shell: When I was little, I had a great grandmother named Mee Mee. I remember four very specific things about Mee Mee: she had her own couch, she loved those fiber optic light thingies, she gave me an opal ring when I turned 10, and she could make magic shell. I thought anyone who could make magic shell (Mee Mee) must be magic. I still do.

homemade magic shell recipe via gerberadesigns.com

4. Beef Jerky: Beef jerky is expensive. And gooooood. And expensive. This one is a surefire guy gift (although frankly I’d love to receive some myself), and frugal to boot. I’ve used Alton Brown’s beef jerky recipe and let me just say, YUM. He builds a dehydrating contraption to make his, but you can use a regular dehydrator or even your oven to get the job done.

beef jerky recipe via foodnetwork.com

5. Homemade Cheddar Cheese Crackers: This goldfish-like cracker is a great savory alternative to the onslaught of cookie, candy and cake recipes that you come across when you google “homemade food gifts”. And waaaaay easy too.

6. Homemade Granola: Granola is great for gift-giving; it’s cheap, it’s easy, it’s adaptable, it stays fresh forever and it’s so darn tasty. My personal granola recipe is just oats, butter or oil, brown sugar, corn syrup or honey, vanilla and a few shakes of cinnamon, but the possibilites are endless and so are the recipe sources. I’ve linked to a basic recipe, but feel free to explore the internet in search of that “perfect” granola… or make up your own!

basic granola formula via thekitchn.com

7. Eggless Cookie Dough Bites: What’s that you say? You need a gift for a girl between the ages of 12 and post-menopausal? THESE. As my Aunt Wendy would say, “nuff said”.

eggless cookie dough bites recipe via family.go.com

8. Homemade Butterfingers: Prepare to have your mind blown. There are only three ingredients in this homemade candy recipe: chocolate, peanut butter and CANDY CORN. Don’t you feel like you just inherited the secrets of the universe? Pass them on this Christmas and wow your gift recipients with a little homemade Butterfinger candy action.

homemade butterfingers recipe via inkatrinaskitchen.com

9. Hot and Spicy Pecans: Spice things up this Christmas with this recipe for savory spiced nuts. If you’re not a fan of pecans, change things up and use peanuts, almonds or even a party mix instead. If you’re not a fan of nuts or have a nut allergy, try this roasted chickpea recipe from thekitchn.com for similar results.

hot and spicy pecans recipe via allrecipes.com

10. Wine: Okay, so wine isn’t exactly homemade, but bear with me. If you’re not savvy in the kitchen, you can improvise! Gift a bottle of wine and wrapt it with a cute pair of knee socks for some homemade flair. See? Edible and homemade. It counts.

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2. Pup’kin Biscuits: If there’s one thing I know about Rachael Ray, it’s that she loves her pups. If she deems this tasty treat recipe worthy of her own furry bestie, you know it’s got to be good for yours too.

5. Suitcase Pet Beds: I almost want to BE a cat now just so I can snuggle up in one of these suitcase pet beds.

Suitcase Pet Bed via thezenofmaking.com

6. 9 Fabulous Handmade or DIY Pet Beds: Here are 9 more cool DIY pet bed ideas for you courtesy of re-nest.com. I think if I were a dog or cat, I’d be inclined to lounge around in one of these all day. I’d be the laziest, most comfortable pet ever.

9 Fabulous Handmade or DIY Pet Beds via re-nest.com

7. Bird Seed Ornaments: They’re not quite for pets, but I remember making these when I was in preschool to hang outside for the wild birds and squirrels. You can find additional homemade bird treats HERE.

Bird Seed Ornaments via saltwater-kids.com

8. Catnip Fish Toys: So easy. So addicting. Your cat will love you forever if you make it a few of these.

Catnip Fish Toy tutorial via marthastewart.com

9. Organic Homemade Pet Treats: There’s a recipe for dogs and one for cats, check them out for some edible pet gifts that are sure to keep your furry friends happy and healthy this holiday.

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2. Toy Soap: What better way to get your kids excited about bath time than a little toy-in-my-soap action? They’ll be eager to lather up, knowing that each trip to the tub gets them closer to the prize inside.

4. Doll Suitcase: This is a homemade version of popular “fold & go” playsets, and it’s just too precious. Don’t limit this idea to your standard “girl toy” doll set, you can create pirates, super heroes, explorers or even animals!

6. No Sew Tutu: I made a no sew tutu for my daughter two years ago, and she still puts it on frequently and prances around my living room pretending she’s a ballerina. When we have play dates, it’s a favorite plaything of her friends. Every little girl needs a tutu in her arsenal of dress-up clothes, and this one couldn’t be easier to whip up.

No Sew Tutu Tutorial via skiptomylou.org

7. Children’s Tool Belt: My kids have these. My son uses his to carry his cars, his blocks, his toy drill. My daughter stuffs hers with princesses, jewelry, rocks and plastic animals. They both put them on as aprons when it’s time to bake.

9. Homemade Finger Paints: Here’s another cool tutorial to foster the creative minds of the young! Parents will appreciate this chemical-free recipe for fun.

Homemade Finger Paints via easiepeasie.blogspot.com

10. Hopscotch Mat: This is the ultimate rainy day boredom buster, and any kid would love to be able to whip out one of these for some indoor action when the winter weather starts to induce those cabin fever blues. Bonus: the backside of the hopscotch mat holds a few more fun games!

Hopscotch Mat via kimboscrafts.blogspot.com

What homemade gifts are you making for the little kids in your life this holiday season? Let us know in the comments section below!

Stay tuned to this blog for upcoming DIY gift guides for pets and edibles!

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Next up in the “Homemade Holidays DIY Gift Guide” series is my favorite – homemade Christmas gifts for kids. Maybe it’s because I get to live vicariously through them during the holidays, picking out gifts that I know I would’ve loved when I was little. Or maybe it’s because there is seriously nothing better in the world than watching a child tinker with and enjoy something that came from our own hands and hearts on Christmas morning.

There are no slim pickin’s in the DIY gifts for kids category, but if you have a great idea that I haven’t covered in the roundup , share it with everyone in the comments section below (links welcome)! And don’t forget to come back for part 2 of the DIY kids gift guide!

1. Homemade Playdough: Seriously, is there anything better than playdough? This is THE easiest homemade gift ever, in the history of ever. And I have yet to come across a child who would turn a cheek to the awesomeness of playdough, so I’m pretty sure this gift’s a winner.

Homemade Playdough Recipe via howdoesshe.com

2. Recycled Crayons: What parent doesn’t have a junk pile of broken crayons lying around? This is my favorite way to upcycle those sad little nibs into something better. I’m sure you’ve seen the version of this where they get melted into muffin tins, but the use of the pretzel molds for a more proper grip is ingenious.

4. Felt Play Mats: Materials needed: felt, scissors, glue gun, imagination. We have an Ikea road rug that I thought was the bee’s knees, but this seriously trumps any road rug in cool-factor. The best part about this project is that you can tailor it to fit the child’s interests, so the possibilities are endless.

Felt Mats via kimboscrafts.blogspot.com

5. A Box of Rocks: I once gave my kids a box full of dried beans. They pulled out some construction vehicles, little Disney princess dolls, plastic animals, and assorted scooping mechanisms (aka my measuring cups & other kitchen utensils) and played with the box of beans for a month straight. It amazed me how much fun they had, but then again, these are the kids who play with the cardboard boxes more than the toys that came inside. If you’ve got one of “those” kids (yeah you do), this gift is ideal. And redonkulously inexpensive. Don’t knock it til you try it.

"Under Construction" Box via pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com

6. Invention Kit Bags: Kids love to make stuff, give them the materials to exercise their imagination and invent away! Stuff a child’s stocking with an invention kit and feed their need to create. I’ve actually made a pact with myself to give something like this as gifts for every child’s birthday party we ever attend for the rest of my children’s early childhood lives (parent-friends of mine, take note and kindly act surprised when your kids unwraps this from us). If it’s birthday gift-friendly, then it’s most certainly Christmas gift-friendly!

Invention Kit Bags via filthwizardry.com

7. I-Spy Bottle: Gift this to a child on Christmas, and don’t be surprised if they eternally tune you out as they sit quietly in a corner, inspecting the contents of their new I-Spy bottle. This DIY gift could not be easier and it’s super inexpensive, making it a must on your list of homemade Christmas to-do’s.

I-Spy Bottle Tutorial via meetthedubiens.com

8. Dollhouse Out of Drawers: Doll house that doesn’t cost $100? Okay! What I actually love the most about this project is that you can make it gender neutral or little guy-friendly instead of plastering it in pink. One of my son’s favorite activities is to play with my daughter’s Calico Critters house, so I guarantee you that boys are hardwired to enjoy these things just as much as girls. So don’t let the name fool you, “doll”houses can also moonlight as fire stations, factories, evil villain hideouts, pet shops, grocery stores, hospitals, castles (and/or dungeons), etc.

Homemade Dollhouse Tutorial via nicegirlnotes.com

What homemade gifts are you making for the little kids in your life this holiday season? Let us know in the comments section below!

Did you like this article? You can get all the latest posts at Gingerly Homemaking in your email inbox by clicking the link below and entering your email address. Your address will only be used for mailing you new posts via Feedburner, and each one will include a link so you can unsubscribe at any time. Subscribe to Ginger(ly) Homemaking by Email